Bread slicer



Jan. 1,6, 1923. L Mzjfz,

G. F. DU BUQUE. BREAD sLlcER.

min MN. 1a. 1921i 7 UU/UUU/IZI/g /N VEN TGR 650/5765 E QUEL/QUE Patented dan. i6, i923.

GEORGE F. DU BUQUE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALFGRNIA.

BREAD SLICER.

A Application filed January 18, 1921. Serial No. 438,186.

entire loaf of bread may be sliced at one operation. l

rlhe device consists essentially of a supporting tray for a loa-:i oi bread and a vertically movable and swingable trame carrying a plurality of blades for performing the slicing operation.

The invention will be readily understood from the following` description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a device constructed in'accordance with the invenof the tion.

lig. 2 is a fragmentary ront elevation ot the device partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through one oil the bearings for the slicing frame.

Fig. 4l is a detail section through the front slicing frame, showing one of the attaching bolts for the slicing blades in front of one of the blades.

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken through the rear of the slicing trame, and showing one of the slicing blades in front of one of the attaching bolts.

The mechanism may comprise a suitable base 1, preferably, carrying a superimposed base 2 of reduced area, and which forms the base ot the bread carrying tray. As an instance of this arrangement, ribs 3 project upwardly from base f2, and extend across the base in transversely spaced relation, the spacesbetween the ribs being indicated at il.

Bearing uprights 5 extend upwardly from the ends ofbase 2, and may be suitably connected thereto as by screws 6. Side and end walls tor the bread carrying tray extend above ribs 3 with the end walls 7 connected as by screws 8 to the end ribs, andvside walls 9 received against the ends of the ribs. For this purpose, bolts 10 may extend through suitable ones of the spaces 4 with the heads of said bolts engaging one side wall, and wing nuts 11 threaded upon the ends of the bolts beyond the other side wall, so as to seperably retain the side walls in position. The

side walls are provided with vertical slots 12 in alinement with spaces l, and the ends of said side walls, preferably, project beyond the end ribs and end walls '7, so as to torni shoulders 13.

in practice side walls 9 are, preferably, flat, so as to form a bread tray oit a. width equal to the length oi ribs 3, but when a loat' of bread of less width is placed in the bread tray, the side walls may be readily removed by moving wing nuts l1 and other side walls placed in position, which have their upper slotted portions inwardly oil'set 'from the base portions or" the same received against the ends of the ribs, so as to provide a narrower bread tray.

The loaf of bread placed in the bread tray as thus constructed, will extend upwardly between side uprights 5, which are spaced somewhat be fond the end walls of the bread tray, and a slicing frame carrying slicing blades is supported by side uprights 5 above the loaf of bread, so as to be readily swung acl; and forth across the loaf or" bread, and at the same time moved downwardly as the slicing blades cut through the loaf.

Y As an instance of this arrangement, a rectangular trame is provided ot suitable size as to be received over the bread tray and between side uprights 5. This frame consists of side bars l5 and end bars 16 terminating in handles 1'?. The downward movement of this -trarne is limited by the abutment of end bar lo upon shoulders i3 of the bread tray. rlhe slicing frame is supported by uprights 18 journaled to end bars 16 mid-way of their length, as by the pivot bolts 19. The upper ends ot these uprights form bearings 20 in which are provided annular grooves 2l adapted to be received in vertical slots 22a, extending downwardly from the upper ends ot side uprights 5.

vShafts 22 are received through the respective bearings 20, and are ixed with relation to said bearings by means of end washers 23, and end bolts 24. The inner ends of shafts 22 are adjacent one another, and may be connected by a suitable threaded sleeve Q5. The construction as thus described, provides for the ready swinging of the slicing frame back and forth above` the bread tray, and also provides for vertical movement of said frame with relation to side uprights 5 through the movement of bearings 2O up and down in slot 2%.

In order that the slicing frame may be held in inoperative position at the upper end of slots 22a, and .above a loaf of bi'ead in the bread tray, downwardly curved transverse slots 27, preferably, extend from 0pposite sides of slots 22a adjacent the upper ends of uprights 5, so that bearings 20 may be moved into said transverse slots for retaining the slicing frame in its elevated position.

A. plurality of blades 30 are mounted in the slicing frame suitably transversely spaced to provide slices of the desired width, and also be received in the slots l2 of side walls 9, and within the spaces 4 provided between ribs 3. The blades are so positioned that their cutting edges will be held out of contact with bases of the slots l2 by abutment of the slicing frame against shoulders i3. The slicing blades are preferably double-edged, and extend above and below the slicing frame, so that the slicing frame may be mounted between the side uprights with either surface thereof turned downwardly to perform the slicing operation.

The blades are preferably removably held in position, so as to be readily replaceable, and for this purpose are provided with elon-` gated end slots 3l adapted to receive cross bars 32. These cross bars are elongated in cross section, so that when turned in one position, they may be readily moved through the elongated slots 31 provided in the slicing blades and through similar elongated slots 3l, provided in end bars 1G, but when turned at right angles. will be positively held against longitudinal displacement. The bars 32 are adjusted along the lengths of slots 3l and 31a, so as to tension blades 30, as by means of hook bolts 33 having their hook ends received over the bars 32 with the threaded ends of said bolts received through side bars l5, and provided with suitable nuts 34 for adjusting the said bolts.

It will 'thus be seen that l have provided an extremely simplified device adapted to support a loat of bread or the like, so that a vertically movable and swingable slicing frame carrying a plurality of blades may be moved with relation to a loaf of bread or the like supported in the tray, so as to cut the entire loaf into slices at one operation.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

llihat is claimed is:

l. A slicing mechanism comprising' a support, vertically slotted bearing uprights, and a slicing member including suspending arms and a cross shaft jouriialedA in said slots for swinging andvertical movement of said slicing member, said slots having cross slots. Y

2. :it slicing mechanism comprising a supporting tray, a slicing member pivoted for vertical swinging movement, and means supporting said member to allow of the vertical movement of the pivot of said member and the sustaining of said pivot in a definite position.

3. A slicing mechanism comprising a tray, spaced uprights, a slicing member comprising spaced uprights, a blade carrying frame, pivoted to the lower ends of the second uprights, and a shaft jouinaled in the upper ends of the second uprights, the first nprights being formed with vertical slots adapted to receive said shaft for allowing of a vertical adjust-nient ofthe slicing meinber, and cross slots in communication with the vertical slots for sustaining the shaft and, consequently, the slicing member, in a definite vertical position.

In testimony whereof-l have signedmy name to this specification,

GEORGE F, DUBQUE. 

